Plenty of people hand out game balls after the game. That’s easy. Watch the game, see who does well, give them the game ball. We’re doing something a little different. We’re handing out a pre-game ball. Before we watch the game, let’s settle on a player or players we think might be a decisive advantage for the Jets in the upcoming game. Occasionally we might hand out a pre-blame ball. If we think the Jets are going to get slaughtered, we’ll try to identify a prime culprit.
One caveat: the quarterback
is off limits. Nothing personal against quarterbacks, but they are obviously the most important players on the field. We could give out a pre-game or pre-blame ball to the quarterback virtually every week, but that would be boring, so we’re not going to do it. We’ll try to identify somebody besides the quarterback for the glory or the ignominy.
This approach comes with the obvious drawback that predictions are difficult, especially about the future. We’re destined to get many of these wrong. No matter. We’ll have some laughs along the way. Let’s get to it.
The Jets pre-game ball for the Jets game against the Miami Dolphins goes to (drum roll please) – Kenyon Sadiq!
The Dolphins have played pretty good run defense this season. Pass defense, on the other hand, has been a problem. The Dolphins have allowed an atrocious 115 passer rating against them this season, second worst in the NFL. They have allowed 11 passing touchdowns in five games, They have sacked opposing quarterbacks just four times all season, by far the fewest in the NFL. This is a bad Dolphins pass defense. Much of the damage has been done by opposing tight ends.
With the Jets having all their primary weapons in the passing game on the field this week for the first time since early in the game on opening day, there will be opportunities for many Jets receivers to have a big game. It could be Garrett Wilson or Omar Cooper or Adonai Mitchell, but I’m going with Kenyon Sadiq. In five games opposing tight ends have combined for 381 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins. Sadiq could have a field day if Frank Reich stops playing inferior tight ends ahead of him.
This is a game the Jets should win. They are the more talented team. They are better on offense and on defense. The Dolphins running game will likely give the Jets defense some problems, but overall the Jets should have their way against a Dolphins team that has failed to score more than 13 points in all but one game this year and has allowed 24+ points in all but one game this year. Kenyon Sadiq is an uber talented tight end playing against a Dolphins team that has struggled mightily against tight ends. If Frank Reich remembers that, Sadiq should feast on Sunday.
Kenyon Sadiq, come on down! It’s time to make people remember what you’re capable of. You get your opportunity on Sunday. Let’s see you run with it.
What about you? Who would you give the pre-game ball to? Let us know in the comments.
